FWB finalizes major annexation

The City Council at a special meeting Tuesday gave unanimous final approval to annex almost 52 acres of Air Force-owned land in unincorporated Okaloosa County.

TONY JUDNICH @Tonyjnwfdn

FORT WALTON BEACH — The City Council at a special meeting Tuesday gave unanimous final approval to annex almost 52 acres of Air Force-owned land in unincorporated Okaloosa County.

The council also unanimously agreed to give a mixed-use-high zoning designation to the land, which is the site of local developer Jay Odom’s proposed Freedom Beacon Park development.

Odom filed an application with Fort Walton Beach in October for voluntary annexation of the property, a vacant, wooded parcel at 1900 Lewis Turner Blvd.

The parcel is bounded by Lewis Turner Boulevard to the south, Roberts Boulevard to the west, Air Force property to the north and the county Courthouse Annex Extension and the C.H. "Bull" Rigdon Fairgrounds to the east.

The Jay Odom Group of Destin has a 50-year ground lease agreement with the Air Force for the property.

Freedom Beacon Park could include about 300 multi-family units, a 102-room hotel, 55,000 square feet of retail/commercial space, 160,000 square feet of office space and a 4-acre central commons area, according to a project rendering.

Odom has said he wants to develop his project in Fort Walton Beach because he would like to be part of the community and have his development receive city police and fire protection, city water and sewer and other services.

Fort Walton Beach officials say having Freedom Beacon Park built in the city means the city would receive property taxes and development fees, building permit fees and utility and stormwater usage fees from the developer.

The council on Nov. 14 gave initial approval to an ordinance that would give Odom’s parcel a mixed-use future land-use designation. That designation requires the state’s review before it comes back to the council for potential adoption.

The state’s review might be completed in January or February, city officials said.

Councilwoman Diane Keller did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, during which no one from the public commented on the proposed development.

"I’m excited for this," Councilwoman Amy Jamieson said before the council voted to approve the annexation.

Following the meeting, City Manager Michael Beedie said officials could finish examining Odom’s project and be ready to issue a development order early next year.